if you can have Christian conservatives

...why not Buddhist marxists?

The National Bhikku Front, the monk wing of Sri Lanka's Marxist People's Liberation Front (JVP), today urged the government to abrogate the Ceasefire Agreement signed with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) before it completes its fifth year.

National Bhikku Front President Dambara Amila Thero said the Ceasefire Agreement creates a dangerous situation for Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, the ongoing fast by the Front against the ceasefire entered its fifth day today. The fasting monks are conducting their protest in front of the Colombo Town Hall.

More on the National Bhikku Front here. They seem to have a peculiar animus against Norway. Via the Head Heeb, who adds:

Buddhist monks in many other places may be in the forefront of struggles for peace, but Nick Gier, a University of Idaho professor who has studied religious violence, argues that Sinhalese Buddhism became wedded to nationalism in the early 20th century and developed a racialized theology of possession based on interpretations of sacred texts.

AFAIK, in most majority Buddhist countries men are supposed to spend at least some time as a monk, so it follows that they would take their politics with them. But what’s the riposte? Taoist libertarians?

So a wise leader may say:
"I practice inaction, and the people look after themselves."

Comments

[Jonathan Edelstein]

They seem to have a peculiar animus against Norway.

Norway is in charge of monitoring the 2002 ceasefire agreement.

[dave heasman]

In a number of Buddhist countries, notably Thailand, a spell in a monastery is the compulsory last 6 months of a prison sentence. Hilarity seldom ensues.